MP Jamal Al-Khudari, head of the People’s Committee to Confront the Siege, confirmed that the Israeli occupation prevents the entry of goods to the private sector in Gaza, with more than $100 million.
Al-Khudari said in a press statement issued today, Friday 2-7-2021, that these goods are being held in Israeli ports and warehouses, with the Kerem Shalom crossing continuing to be closed almost completely for about two months.
“These goods come the industrial, commercial and agricultural sector in a legal and official permits official import through Israeli ports and after customs clearance and departure ports are prevented from entering through the crossing only because more pressure on the sector economic.
He considered vegetative that a serious blow to the national economy in the Gaza Strip, and affects Significantly affects all aspects of life, noting that more than 90% of factories are closed and 10% are working less than usual.
Al-Khudari stressed that these measures and the continued closure of the only commercial crossing have repercussions on the high rates of unemployment and poverty, which are already high due to the blockade, and the overall economic life.
Al-Khudari reiterated the necessity of removing the case of opening the crossings from any political or security equation, as it is an important entry point for lifting the Israeli siege.
Al-Khudari called on the international community to take quick and urgent measures to compel the occupation to open the crossings, considering that their continued closure is a flagrant violation of international law, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Al-Khudari said, “International and UN statements are not enough and must be turned into elements of pressure to compel the occupation to open the crossings.”
He stressed that the occupation practices a collective punishment against the Gaza Strip by continuing its siege for 14 years and tightening it, which is reflected on people’s lives and leads to a decline in income rates, stressing that opening the crossings is a right and the occupation is obligated to open them continuously.
“Eid al-Adha is approaching, and many merchants are holding their goods, which means that they will incur heavy losses if the occupation continues to prevent their entry, especially as it is linked to the Eid season,” he said.
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